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SB0824 • 2026

Firearms and Ammunition

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

Firearms
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Hensley, Reneau
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the consequences of breaking new rules or how it will affect existing laws in certain locations.

Changes to Gun Laws in Tennessee

This bill removes criminal penalties for carrying guns in places where signs say 'no firearms allowed' or 'concealed firearms by permit only', and allows businesses, corporations, government entities to post general warning signs about guns.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the criminal penalty for possessing a weapon in areas that are posted as 'no firearms allowed' or 'concealed firearms by permit only'.
  • Allows individuals, corporations, business entities, and local, state, or federal government entities to post general signage advising patrons about firearm possession rules.
  • Requires certain places banning guns to have metal detectors and security checks if they want to enforce these bans.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who carry firearms in public areas.
  • Businesses and property owners posting signs about guns on their premises.
  • Local government entities enforcing gun possession rules.

Terms To Know

Metal detection devices
Machines used to check if people are carrying metal objects, like guns or knives.
Enhanced handgun carry permit holder
A person who has a special permit allowing them to carry a concealed gun in certain places.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone breaks the new rules.
  • It is unclear how this will affect enforcement of existing laws about guns in specific locations like schools or hospitals.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/14/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/15/2026

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  5. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee

  6. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2026

  8. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2027

  10. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  17. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  19. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  20. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  22. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  23. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  24. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  26. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  29. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  31. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Under present law, possession of a weapon in a building or on property that is posted as "no firearms allowed", or possession of a weapon in a building or on prope
rty that is posted "concealed firearms by permit only" without a permit, is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500. In addition to the fine, if the violator possessed a handgun permit, the department of safety is required to
suspend or revoke
the

p
ermit
.

This bill removes the criminal penalty and the requirement for permit suspension or revocation. This bill also replaces present law that specifies particular signage in order for a building or property to be properly posted with general au
thorization for
an individual, corporation, business entity, or local, state, or federal government entity or agent thereof
to p
ost

signage in prominent locations advising patrons that anyone possessing a firearm on the premises may be denied admission ont
o the premises or required to leave the premises by the owner or manager
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 985
By Reneau

SENATE BILL 824
By Hensley
SB0824
002178
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1352(a)(6), is amended by
deleting "§ 39-17-1360" and substituting "§ 39-17-1353".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1358(b), is amended by
deleting "§ 39-17-1360" and substituting "§ 39-17-1353".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1359, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) Except as provided in § 39-17-1313, this section does not preclude an
individual, corporation, business entity, or local, state, or federal government entity or
agent thereof from posting signage in prominent locations advising patrons that anyone
possessing a firearm on the premises may be denied admission onto the premises or
required to leave the premises by the owner or manager.
(b)
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2), this section does not
authorize an entity of local government or a permittee thereof to enact or enforce
a prohibition or restriction on the possession of a handgun by an enhanced
handgun carry permit holder or concealed handgun carry permit holder on
property owned or administered by the entity unless:
(A) The following are provided at each public entrance to the
property:
(i) Metal detection devices; and

- 2 - 002178

(ii) At least one (1) law enforcement or private security
officer who has been adequately trained to conduct inspections of
persons entering the property by use of metal detection devices;
and
(B) Each person who enters the property through the public
entrance when the property is open to the public and any bag, package,
and other container carried by the person is inspected by a law
enforcement or private security officer described in subdivision
(b)(1)(A)(ii) or an authorized representative with the authority to deny
entry to the property.
(2) The restrictions in subdivision (b)(1) do not apply to:
(A) Facilities that are licensed under title 33, title 37, or title 68;
(B) Property on which firearms are prohibited by § 39-17-1309 or
§ 39-17-1311(b)(1)(H)(ii);
(C) Property on which firearms are prohibited by § 39-17-1306 at
all times regardless of whether judicial proceedings are in progress;
(D) Buildings that contain a law enforcement agency, as defined
in § 39-13-519;
(E) Libraries; or
(F) Facilities that are licensed by the department of human
services under title 71, chapter 3, part 5, and administer a Head Start
program.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.